Frequency offset differential pulse position modulation

• US 20070086326A1
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hemingway Fisheries LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mancusi, Michael, Langley, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/026 using pulse time characteristics modulation, e.g. width, position, interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/066 using differential modulation with several bits [NDPCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention provides such a need by utilizing a frequency offset differential pulse position modulation scheme to transmit data between computing devices within a wireless network system. The differential pulse position modulation component of the scheme enables the present invention to provide relative immunity to interference for the system. In particular, such immunity from interference is achieved by utilizing a blanking time between pulse positions, which is large enough to allow the interference between frequency offset-differential pulse position modulation pulses to subside. The frequency offset component of the scheme enables the system to utilize multiple frequency channels to enable the system to achieve higher data rates. In particular, by utilizing a time offset between the frequency channels, the blanking time can be reduced, thereby increasing the amount of data that can be transmitted with a set period of time.

Claims

12. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an antenna of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected to receive the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

1. (canceled)

2. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter operable to transmit data at least in part in a plurality of non-simultaneous pulses, the plurality of pulses comprising a plurality of frequency hopped pulses.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of frequency hopped pulses comprise a set of pulse position modulated signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising:

an antenna operable to transmit the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising:

a plurality of antennae operable to transmit the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein an antenna of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected to transmit the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a set of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected to transmit a selected set of the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, and further comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses, the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses comprising a plurality of frequency hopped pulses.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of frequency hopped pulses comprise a set of pulse position modulated signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, and further comprising:

an antenna operable to receive the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, and further comprising:

a plurality of antennae operable to receive the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected based at least in part on a signal strength of the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected based at least in part on a pulse presence.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a set of antennae of the plurality of antennas is operable to be selected to receive the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

16-1. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the set of antennae of the plurality of antennae is operable to be selected based at least in part on a signal strength of the second plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

17-2. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the set of antennae of the plurality of antennae is selected based at least in part on a pulse presence.

18. A method comprising:

transmitting data at least in part in a plurality of non-simultaneous pulses; and

frequency hopping at least a portion of the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses comprise a set of pulse position modulated signals.

20. The method of claim 18, and further comprising selecting an antenna from a plurality of antennae to transmit the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

21. The method of claim 18, and further comprising selecting a set of antennae from a plurality of antennae to transmit the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

22. The method of claim 18, and further comprising receiving the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

23. The method of claim 22, and further comprising selecting an antenna from a second plurality of antennae to receive the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein selecting an antenna from a second plurality of antennae is based at least in part on a signal strength of the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses at said antenna.

25. The method of claim 22, and further comprising selecting a set of antennae from a second plurality of antennae to receive the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein selecting the set of antennae from the second plurality of antennae is based at least in part on a signal strength of the plurality of non-simultaneous pulses at said set of antennae.